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Novel non-equimolar high-entropy SrLa(Al 0.25 Zn 0.125 Mg 0.125 Ti 0.25 Ga 0.25)O 4 (SLAZMTG) ceramics with a layered perovskite structure have been prepared via the standard solid-state reaction method. The high-entropy composition belongs to the tetrahedral structure with a space group of I 4/ mmm , which is confirmed by the XRD and TEM analyses. Excellent microwave dielectric properties with a suitable dielectric constant (ε r = 22.5), high quality factor (Qf = 83,003 GHz), and near-zero τ f value of −1.7 ppm/°C are obtained in SLAZMTG ceramics sintered at 1400 °C. Meanwhile, a significant enhancement in compressive strength was achieved due to the improvement of configuration entropy, 912 MPa for SLAZMTG compared to 578 MPa in the pure SrLaAlO 4 composition. Additionally, the high-entropy engineering in the present work suggests great potential in achieving low thermal conductivities. SLAZMTG ceramics exhibit low thermal conductivities ranging from 2.86 W/m•K at 323 K to 1.99 W/m•K at 673 K, much lower than those of SrLaAlO 4 and other perovskite ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yohen Tenmoku, a masterpiece of Jian kiln with bright blue rendering effect under different incident light, is lack research as only three intact pieces exist in the world. Herein, this study was fortunate to work with Jianxing Sun to conduct technical characterization and material analysis of the imitation Yohen Tenmoku (Song). Black oil spots are composed of magnetite (10–25 µm) and Al doping in hematite (1–3 µm) precipitated on the glaze surface. Brilliant blue color a combination of the bright blue structural color resulting from the coherent scattering of amorphous photonic crystals composed of spherical phase separation structures of 130 nm and the coloring of iron ions produced in a weak reducing atmosphere by the addition of high iron glazes with composite alkali (CaO and MgO). Continuous refraction and reflection of the structural color between the blue glass phases gives the glaze a shiny and dazzling blue color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent years have witnessed the explosive application of sequencing technologies to study tumor–microenvironment interactions and their role in shaping intratumoral heterogeneity, neoplastic progression and tumor resistance to anticancer drugs. Statistical modeling is an essential tool to decipher the function of cellular interactions from massive amounts of transcriptomic data. However, most available approaches can only capture the existence of cell interconnections, failing to reveal how cells communicate with each other in (bi)directional, signed, and weighted manners. Widely used ligand–receptor signaling analysis can discern pairwise or dyadic cell–cell interactions, but it has little power to characterize the rock–paper–scissors cycle of interdependence among a large number of interacting cells. Here, we introduce an emerging statistical physics theory, derived from the interdisciplinary cross-pollination of ecosystem theory, allometric scaling law, evolutionary game theory, predator–prey theory, and graph theory. This new theory, coined quasi-dynamic game-graph theory (qdGGT), is formulated as generalized Lotka–Volterra predator–prey equations, allowing cell–cell crosstalk networks across any level of organizational space to be inferred from any type of genomic data with any dimension. qdGGT can visualize and interrogate how genes reciprocally telegraph signals among cells from different biogeographical locations and how this process orchestrates tumor processes. We demonstrate the application of qdGGT to identify genes that drive intercellular cooperation or competition and chart mechanistic cell–cell interaction networks that mediate the tumor–microenvironment crosstalk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel high-entropy Sr(La 0.2 Nd 0.2 Sm 0.2 Eu 0.2 Gd 0.2)AlO 4 ceramics with a layered perovskite structure have been prepared via the standard solid-state reaction method. The design of high-entropy improves the bond valence and subsequently optimizes the large negative temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ f = −32 ppm/°C) of the simple SrLaAlO 4 ceramics. Excellent temperature stability (τ f = −6 ppm/°C) together with a relative permittivity (ε r) of 18.6 and a quality factor (Qf = 14,509 GHz) are obtained in Sr(La 0.2 Nd 0.2 Sm 0.2 Eu 0.2 Gd 0.2)AlO 4 ceramics sintered at 1475 °C. It indicates that the present ceramics have great application prospects in passive microwave components such as resonators and filters. Meanwhile, significant improvements in compressive strength and strain are achieved, which are 1040 MPa and 15.7% for Sr(La 0.2 Nd 0.2 Sm 0.2 Eu 0.2 Gd 0.2)AlO 4 compared to 583 MPa and 12% in SrLaAlO 4. The enhanced mechanical properties originate from the dislocation strengthening mechanism as the intertwining of interlayer lattices is revealed from the high-resolution transmission electronic micrographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare large vasculitis with unknown etiology, which affects the aorta and its primary branches, as well as the pulmonary and coronary arteries. Cellular and humoral immunity, chronic inflammation, and genetic factors are involved into TA pathogenesis. Several biomarkers, such as MMPs, TIMPs, cytokines, cell adhesion molecules, autoantibodies, complements, PTX3, sRAGE, NT-proBNP, 8-isoPGF 2α, NO 2 −, acute-phase and immunology-related proteins, thrombogenicity markers, ghrelin leptin and adipokines, endothelial damage and repair factors, genetic markers etc., related to the pathogenesis could be observed in patients with TA. These biomarkers have revealed great values in early diagnosis, evaluating disease activity, guiding clinical treatment options, and thus demonstrated significant clinical application values in TA. The combination of biomarkers assay and imaging examination may detect TA more accurately. The aim of this review is to systemically observe the clinical significance of these biomarkers in TA. • Autoimmune, inflammation, and genetic factors are associated with TA pathogenesis. Biomarkers related to the pathogenesis could be observed in TA. • There is a need for better biomarkers in TA, including diagnosis, assessment of current disease activity, and prognosis. • Progress has been made in identifying TA biomarkers in early diagnosis, evaluating disease activity, guiding clinical treatment options, and thus demonstrated significant clinical application values of TA. Combination of biomarkers assay and imaging examination may detect TA more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evacuated solar collectors are renewable systems that provide a considerable quantity of heat during test time. However, this system is unable to provide energy in the absence of sunlight. Thus, this study attempted to numerically study a Solar Evacuated Tube Collector (ETC) performance using phase change materials (PCM). PCM can store considerable thermal energy during the day and release it to the system at night. In order to simulate the ETC-PCM system, an accurate three-dimensional model considering all the layers is designed. In the present numerical investigation, the effect of various properties of the PCM, including enthalpy, melting point, and thermal conductivity, on the outputs of the ETC-PCM system are evaluated separately. Also, the effects of some other factors, such as MWCNT nanoparticles dispersion in the base fluid and working fluid mass flow rate, on the performance of the ETC-PCM system are studied. Furthermore, to evaluate the performance of the system and model the behavior of the PCM during the day, the system is simulated under the weather condition of Hing Kong from sunrise until sunset. According to the results of the simulations, a reduction in PCM melting point from 50 °C to 35 °C can elevate the efficiency of the ETC-PCM device. PCM with a high melting point remains solid during the day. Thus, its effect on the output of the system cannot be revealed. Moreover, it is found that the system using PCM with the latent heat of 160 kJ/kg has the best performance among the studied cases. Besides, it is illustrated that raising the mass flow rate of working fluid and mass fraction of nanoparticles can enhance the system's performance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the solar hydrogen storage is modeled and hourly investigated with TRNSYS software. The Photovoltaic (PV) panel is employed for green power generation that is consumed in the electrolyzer subsystem and produced hydrogen. Additionally, the required electricity at the lack of enough solar irradiation is supplied from the grid. The performance of the system is comparatively analyzed for three main cities. Results show that the maximum power generation by PV panel is about 1670 kW in June which approximately is the same for two cities. The energy and Faraday efficiency of electrolyzer changes between 0.85-0.89 and 0.89–0.92 respectively. The amount of hydrogen production reaches 1235 m3/h for one of them in May. The total amount of hydrogen production is 13,181 m3/year in Yazd, 13,143 m3/year in hot city, and 13,141 m3/year in most populated city. • Transient simulation of power to hydrogen system using TRNSYS. • Influence of various places on hydrogen production rate. • Designing a hydrogen storage system with a solar energy source. • Analyzing the performance of the electrolyzer from an energy viewpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a practical fuel cell vehicle considering the Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning system is considered to analyze hydrogen consumption under different working conditions. As a prevalent hydrogen-fueled vehicle, Toyota Mirai has been meticulously modeled in Simecenter Amesim software. The simulated model covers all of the vehicle's components with a concentration on Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning system. Since the air temperature and 'weather conditions can significantly impact the vehicle's overall performance, various environmental conditions, including temperature variations, humidity, and varied solar fluxes, are taken into account. Furthermore, New York City is chosen as a densely populated megacity to simulate the dynamic behavior of the fuel cell vehicle under actual driving circumstances. The results illustrate that the Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning system can notably alter hydrogen consumption under real driving conditions. In this regard, turning on the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system results in a 19% increase in fuel consumption. Moreover, the degradation phenomenon, which is a typical result of using fuel cell vehicles under urban driving conditions, impacts the vehicle's mileage and hydrogen consumption. The simulation results indicate that a fresh fuel cell stack consumes 80 g of hydrogen, while for 2500 and 5500 working hours fuel cells, the stack consumes 89.6 and 107 g of hydrogen, respectively. Based on the obtained results, a 33.75% increase in fuel consumption occurs by implementing a degraded fuel cell stack under real driving conditions. • Toyota Mirai hydrogen-fueled vehicle is modeled precisely in Simcenter Amesim software considering Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning system. • Various climate conditions, including temperature changes, humidity differences, different solar powers, and four different vehicle's colors are considered. • Vehicle performance under real driving conditions in New York City is analyzed to model the overall vehicle's performance dynamically. • Hydrogen consumption under different climate conditions is recorded, and the results have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic-inorganic hybrid low-dimensional metal halides have been widely studied as a new class of luminescence materials due to abundant structural diversity and intriguing photophysical property. Herein, we explored two new Cd-based 0D halides of [BHEPZ]CdBr 4 (BHEPZ = 1,4-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine) and [EPIPZ]CdBr 4 (EPIPZ = 1-ethylpiperazine) through facile wet-chemistry method. These 0D halides exhibit blue light emissions derived from radiative recombination of self-trapped excitons (STEs) based on detailed spectroscopy investigations. More interestingly, [BHEPZ]CdBr 4 exhibits rapid luminescence off switching toward benzaldehyde but fails in any other organic solvents. In-depth investigations demonstrate that the detection limit can fall to 2.65 ppm indicating perfect real-time fluorescent probe to detect benzaldehyde with high sensitivity and selectivity. This work enriches the cadmium halide materials and provide a new perspective for potential applications of 0D hybrid metal halides. Two Cd-based 0D halides were designed as blue light emitters from self-trapped excitons (STEs) with high thermal stability. Significantly, this halide displays fluorescence detection ability toward benzaldehyde with high selectivity, sensitivity and stability. [Display omitted] • Two 0D hybrid cadmium halides based on discrete [CdBr 4 ]2- clusters were synthesized. • The halides exhibits excellent chemical and thermal stabilities. • [BHEPZ]CdBr 4 can be explored as a good fluorescence sensor for benzaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the corrosion behavior of as-cast Al x CrFeMnCu (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at room temperature. The results indicated that the corrosion resistance of the Al x CrFeMnCu HEAs decreased with increasing Al content. Intergranular corrosion was the primary corrosion type for CrFeMnCu and Al 0.5 CrFeMnCu HEAs, while Al 1.0 CrFeMnCu, Al 1.5 CrFeMnCu, and Al 2.0 CrFeMnCu HEAs exhibited selective corrosion with enrichment of Al and Cu in the BCC2 phase. The XPS fitting calculations indicated that an increase in the molar ratio of Al led to a decrease in Cr 2 O 3 content and an increase in Al 2 O 3 content, which weakened the stability and protective properties of the passive film. [Display omitted] • Effect of Al content on the corrosion behaviors and mechanism of Al x CrFeMnCu high entropy alloys (HEAs) was investigated. • Al additions to CrFeMnCu HEAre detrimental to the corrosion resistance. • Al content variation alters the corrosion type of Al x CrFeMnCu HEAs. • High corrosion resistance was attributed to higher Cr 2 O 3 and lower Al 2 O 3 in the passive film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Discussed the effects of temperature and strain rate on microstructure. • Observation shows that the fracture surface is mainly characterized by ductile dimples and ductile fracture. • Established a Bonora model for 25CrMo4 steel considering temperature and strain rate. In this research, hot tensile test was performed on 25CrMo4 steel in the temperature range of 1273 K to 1423 K and different strain rates in the range of 0.01 to 10 s−1.The relationship between deformation and factors such as temperature, strain rate and stress triaxiality was investigated.The results showed that decreasing the temperature and increasing the strain rate causes a significant increase in the flow stress curve of steel. Variation of the fracture behavior with temperature and strain rate was studied. The observed fracture types are all ductile fractures characterized by dimples. The maximum fracture strain was found to be 0.513 at temperature of 1273 K and strain rate of 10 s−1. At the same time, DRXed grain coarsing is observed with the decrease of strain rate and increase of tensile temperature. A fracture damage model for predicting fracture failure is proposed based on Bonora damage model. The predicted damage values obtained by the damage model have a good correlation with experimental, with only a maximum relative difference of 8.46%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using nanofluids to capture CO 2 is a promising method of reducing emissions. The goal of this study was to develop models that could forecast how well water-based nanofluids would absorb CO 2. Several machine learning models, such as Decision Tree, Random Forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and K-Nearest Neighbors, underwent training using a total of 1306 experimental datasets. These datasets contained information on the CO 2 solubility in aqueous solutions for different types of nanoparticles. In terms of Average Absolute Relative Deviation (AARD%), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Relative Absolute Error, Mean Squared Error, and Correlation Coefficient, the predictive performance on separate test data was assessed. The XGBoost model demonstrates a higher degree of accuracy in simulating the absorption capacity of aqueous nanofluid compared to other models. This is evident through the AARD value of 2.8%, MSE of 0.00084, MAE of 0.012 and an R value of 0.992. The research provides insight into the utilization of different machine learning algorithms for simulating the absorption of CO 2 by nanofluids. By employing accurate data-driven models, the efficiency of nanofluid-based CO 2 capture processes can be enhanced through improvements in their design and operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Four environmentally biomass carbon quantum dots (BCQDs) inhibitors were successfully prepared from pitaya peels. • The BCQDs are effective in inhibiting corrosion of Q235 steel in 1 M HCl. • BCQDs are mixed-type corrosion inhibitors. • The BCQDs prevent corrosive substances from attacking by self-aggregating and adsorbing. In this work, an effective and eco-friendly biomass carbon quantum dots (BCQDs) inhibitors were prepared by hydrothermal method from pitaya peels. Physicochemical characterization revealed that the particle size and carbon content of BCQD changed depending on the preparation time. In hydrochloric acid solution, BCQDs with smaller particle-sized and/or higher carbon content performed a stronger corrosion inhibition effect according to electrochemical tests. An inhibition efficiency of over 95% could be achieved. Additionally, the inhibition mechanism of BCQDs was also inferred and analyzed. It is expected that this systemic study will provide guidance for the design of nanomaterial corrosion inhibitors in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Migration modes were correlated with clinical outcomes. • The worm was prone to migrate toward the cortical surface after medication. • Lesions distal from the original site may represent a delayed immune reaction. To differentiate diagnostic and prognostic factors from the clinical material of patients with cerebral sparganosis in central South China. Consecutive patients with cerebral sparganosis from our hospital between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical manifestations, radiographic features, treatment, and outcomes of these patients were analyzed. Thirty patients with cerebral sparganosis were included, and foci migration on magnetic resonance imaging was detected in 22 patients, from whom we observed 4 migration modes: interlobar migration (50.0%, 11/22); transmidline migration (27.3%, 6/22); transventricular migration (13.6%, 3/22); and cerebellum-brainstem migration (9.1%, 2/22). The percentage of good outcomes was higher in patients with live worm capture than in those without live worm capture (75.0%, 12/16 vs 33.3%, 2/6). Exposure to preoperative antiparasitic medication was associated with worm migration toward the cortical surface, which led to a higher probability of live worm capture. We propose 4 modes of sparganosis migration that are correlated with worm capture and neurologic prognosis. We found that exposure to antiparasitic medication was associated with worm migration toward the cortical surface, leading to a higher probability of live worm capture. These observations suggest a novel significance for preoperative medication of cerebral sparganosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial secondary metabolites are pivotal for the development of novel drugs. However, conventional culture techniques, have left a vast array of unexpressed biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in microorganisms, hindering the discovery of metabolites with distinct structural features and diverse biological functions. To address this limitation, several innovative strategies have been emerged. The "One Strain Many Compounds" (OSMAC) strategy, which involves altering microbial culture conditions, has proven to be particularly effective in mining numerous novel secondary metabolites for the past few years. Among these, microbial cyclic peptides stand out. These peptides often comprise rare amino acids, unique chemical structures, and remarkable biological function. With the advancement of the OSMAC strategy, a plethora of new cyclic peptides have been identified from diverse microbial genera. This work reviews the progress in mining novel compounds using the OSMAC strategy and the applications of this strategy in discovering 284 microbial cyclic peptides from 63 endophytic strains, aiming to offer insights for the further explorations into novel active cyclic peptides. [Display omitted] • Mining microbial cyclic peptides through OSMAC strategy. • The sources, structures and bioactivities of cyclic peptides produced by the OSMAC strategy. • Rare amino acids of microbial cyclic peptides. • Features and applications of the OSMAC strategy. • Combining OSMAC strategy with other pathway-specific strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 displays a type-II band alignment. • The electrons are moved from the GaSe 1-x Te x to the MoS 2 layer. • Te doping improves effective mass ratio and carrier separation efficiency. • The visible light absorption ability is improved in the lower energy region. In this work, the influence of Te atom doping on GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 heterojunctions within the electronic, optical, and photocatalytic behavior are examined by means of first-principles calculations. The outcomes demonstrate that GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 is a van der Waals heterojunction and displays a type-II band alignment, as substantiated by the binding energy and layer separation. Te atom doping can functionally govern the bandgap of GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 , and all of them present a progressively decreasing tendency with the increase of the doping concentration, covering a range from 1.28 eV to 0 eV. Additionally, the VBM and CBM in all configurations derive from the contribution of electrons supplied by the Te- p and Mo- d orbitals, respectively. The CDD and W suggest that the electrons in GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 are moved from the GaSe 1-x Te x to the MoS 2 layer, yet the impact of Te doping on the charge distribution at the interface is quite tenuous. Moreover, the increase in Te doping concentration improves the probability of photogenerated electron and hole desynchronization, and the larger VBOs and CBOs in the interlayers of GaSeT 0.33 /MoS 2 and GaSeB 0.33 /MoS 2 lead to a redistribution of electrons, which is conducive to the acceleration of the efficient dissociation of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Comparing with the monolayers, the two heterojunctions reveal the relatively wider absorption edge and enhanced light absorption ability in the lower energy visible light range, predicting the potential utilization of both in the fields of photocatalysis and solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of MPA on the lipid profile and CVD risk is still controversial; hence, this comprehensive dose–response meta -analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to assess the effect of MPA on lipid profiles in women. A comprehensive search was conducted in the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Embase, up to October 20, 2023. A random-effects meta -analysis approach based on the DerSimonian and Laird method was used to compute the combined estimates of the intervention's impact on the lipid profile. 35 eligible studies with 58 arms were included in our meta -analyses analysis. Combined effect sizes suggested a significant effect of MPA on total cholesterol (TC) levels (WMD: −3.43 mg/dL, 95 % CI: −5.38 to −1.48, p < 0.001), HDL-C levels (WMD: −3.34 mg/dL, 95 % CI: −3.77 to −2.91, p < 0.001), and triglyceride (TG) levels (WMD: −9.13 mg/dL, 95 % CI: −10.92 to −7.33, p < 0.001). The subgroup meta -analysis revealed a more substantial reduction in TC in studies with dosages > 2.5 mg/day (WMD: −4.10 mg/dL), mean participant age lower than 60 years (WMD: −3.80 mg/dL), mean BMI lower than 25 kg/m2 (WMD: −5.61 mg/dL), duration of intervention of 12 months or more (WMD: −3.98 mg/dL), and when the baseline TC value was equal to or greater than 200 mg/dL (WMD: −4.13 mg/dL). The current meta -analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in TC, TG, and HDL-C levels and a non-significant increase in LDL-C levels after MPA administration in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the strengthening and deformation behavior of heterogeneous dual-phase high-entropy alloys (HEAs), Al x CoCrFeNi 3 (x = 1, 1.1, 1.15, 1.2, 1.25 and 1.3) HEAs were designed and prepared. The microstructure consists of FCC phase rich in Co-Cr-Fe-Ni and BCC phase rich in Ni Al, forming a soft and hard heterostructure. With the increase of Al, the microstructure changes from hypoeutectic to hypereutectic, and Al 1.25 CoCrFeNi 3 alloy exhibits a fine eutectic lamellar morphology. Tensile results show that the strength of Al x CoCrFeNi 3 HEAs tends to increase and then decrease with increasing Al elements. Al 1.25 CoCrFeNi 3 alloy achieves the highest yield strength (535.32 MPa) and tensile strength (1060.59 MPa) as well as high plasticity (17.21%), achieving a balance of strength and plasticity. Interfacial strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, solid solution strengthening and friction stress strengthening play an important role. During the tensile process, the eutectic lamellar heterostructure results in long-range back stress, which induces the high strain hardening ability of FCC phase. Due to the continuous transformation of stress in lamellar heterostructure, the cracks initiate in BCC phase and passivate in FCC phase, which forms synergistic strengthening effects. • By adjusting the content of Al, a heterogeneous structure of eutectic high-entropy alloy was prepared. • The contributions of different strengthening mechanisms were calculated. • The deformation and fracture mechanisms were analyzed by a combination of theoretical analysis and experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization of the CO 2 plume evolution in deep aquifers under geological uncertainties is crucial for designing geological carbon storage (GCS) projects. In this study, we are concerned with uncertainty quantification (UQ) of CO 2 plume migration in uncertain permeability fields following non-Gaussian distributions. Specifically, we are concerned with the effect of intra-facies heterogeneity on plume migration in a multi-facies sedimentary setting. To alleviate the huge computational burden required for UQ, machine learning (ML) methods are broadly used to develop surrogate models. However, the quality of ML surrogate models is often not qualified. Here we present a probabilistic convolutional neural network (pCNN) method for fast surrogate modeling of the CO 2 plume evolution. The dense and residual connections are adopted in the pCNN's network architecture to enhance its performance in approximating the highly complex input–output mapping of the GCS model induced by non-Gaussian permeability heterogeneity. In addition, a Bayesian training strategy is utilized to train the pCNN surrogate model, enabling it to give predictions together with an estimate of the surrogate uncertainty. As a result, uncertainties associated with the pCNN surrogate can be quantified in addition to the model parameter uncertainty. The proposed method is demonstrated using a 3-D GCS model with an uncertain, non-Gaussian distributed, multi-facies permeability field. Results show that pCNN is able to provide a reliable and fast approximation of the highly complex GCS model. The pCNN-derived UQ estimates, obtained with negligible additional computational costs, show a good agreement with those derived from the computationally intensive GCS model. The generalization performance of pCNN is further investigated using "out-of-distribution" permeability samples. For such permeability fields, pCNN can still provide relatively accurate approximations, only showing slightly increased predictive errors and uncertainties relative to those having similar distributions to the training samples. • pCNN provides both reliable predictions and predictive uncertainties. • UQ of CO 2 plume migration in non-Gaussian permeability fields using pCNN. • pCNN obtains accurate UQ results at a relatively low computational cost. • pCNN gives satisfactory performance on "out-of-distribution" permeability samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-noble metal co-catalysts can promote photo-excited charge separation of semiconductor and act as active sites for proton catalytic H 2 evolution. However, how to judge which function non-noble metal co-catalyst has is not clear. Here, we reported a 3D flower-like WC (WC–F) which shows outstanding activity (24502 μmol/h/g) on CdS in photocatalytic H 2 evolution. WC–F has the largest specific capacitance (12.07 F/g), which contributes to the largest electron storage capability. The integration of noble metal Pd and WC tests demonstrated WC–F has the largest proton reduction catalysis ability. Significantly, composite co-catalyst Pd/WC–F on CdS shows slightly higher (1.16 times) activity than WC–F/CdS, which means most of photoexcited electrons on WC–F have been consumed and reaction with protons to produce hydrogen. Thus, two judgement methods for both charges storage and protons catalysis were put forward. H 2 evolution mechanism of Lotus-White lotus root-Green lotus leaf. [Display omitted] • 3D flower-like WC–F loaded on CdS shows the best photocatalytic activity. • Pd is the most excellent co-catalyst among noble metals. • (Pd/WC–F)/CdS hardly enhances activity of WC–F/CdS, demonstrating WC-F has strong catalytic ability. • A criteria is proposed to judge whether a non-noble metal co-catalyst has strong catalytic ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), such as rosiglitazone (RSG), which activates peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), are a potent class of oral antidiabetic agents with good durability. However, the clinical use of TZDs is challenging because of their side effects, including weight gain and hepatotoxicity. Here, we found that bavachinin (BVC), a lead natural product, additively activates PPARγ with low-dose RSG to preserve the maximum antidiabetic effects while reducing weight gain and hepatotoxicity in db/db mice caused by RSG monotherapy. Structural and biochemical assays demonstrated that an unexplored hotspot around Met329 and Ser332 in helix 5 is triggered by BVC cobinding to RSG-bound PPARγ, thereby allosterically stabilizing the active state of the activation-function 2 motif responsible for additive activation with RSG. Based on this hotspot, we discovered a series of new classes of allosteric agonists inducing the activity of TZDs in the same manner as BVC. Together, our data illustrate that the hotspot of PPARγ is druggable for the discovery of new allosteric synergists, and the combination therapy of allosteric synergists and TZD drugs may provide a potential alternative approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to establish a rapid and accurate method for identifying aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy combined with either partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) or a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm were used to construct discriminative models for distinguishing between uncontaminated and aflatoxin-contaminated peanut oil. Peanut oil samples containing various concentrations of aflatoxin B1 were examined with an ATR-FTIR spectrometer. Preprocessed spectral data were input to PLS-DA and SVM algorithms to construct discriminative models for aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil. SVM penalty and kernel function parameters were optimized using grid search, a genetic algorithm, and particle swarm optimization. The PLS-DA model established using spectral data had an accuracy of 94.64% and better discrimination than did models established based on preprocessed data. The SVM model established after data normalization and grid search optimization with a penalty parameter of 16 and a kernel function parameter of 0.0359 had the best discrimination, with 98.2143% accuracy. The discriminative models for aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil established by combining ATR-FTIR spectral data and nonlinear SVM algorithm were superior to the linear PLS-DA models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic pollutants in water have been a great environment challenges to human beings, and photocatalytic degradation is an effective method to solve this problem. In this paper, the Rh-loaded cobalt ferrite CoFe 2 O 4 (CFO) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by in situ photodeposition of Rh nanoparticles onto the porous CFO particles as the photocatalysts. After incorporating Rh nanoparticles, the CFO/Rh composite has a higher specific surface area and is more efficient in charge separation than the bare CFO. The photocatalytic efficiency of decomposing Malachite Green (MG) is improved from 70% over the bare CFO to 97% over the optimized CFO/Rh in 60 min. The CFO/Rh sample also demonstrates its durability for the degradation of MG in 5 photocatalytic reaction cycles. Additionally, hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide radicals (•O 2 −) are proved to be the crucial reactive species during the photocatalytic degradation of MG with CFO/Rh, evidenced by the active species capture experiments. This work provides a useful approach to enhance the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors for degrading organic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the effective solid-state preparation of CuInSe 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites by simple MOF-assisted synthesis at moderate temperatures. The as-synthesized CuInSe 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites were systematically analysed to evaluate their structural and morphological features using XRD, SEM, and HRTEM. The photocatalytic performances of the CuInSe 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites were evaluated for the degradation of two endocrine disruptors namely, bisphenol-A and resorcinol. The photocatalytic performances revealed that the CuInSe 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite enabled a higher removal rate of bisphenol-A and resorcinol under visible light. The generated (°OH) and holes (h+) played a major role in CuInSe 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites by the removing of aqueous bisphenol-A and resorcinol. In addition, CuInSe 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 photocatalysts could be easily separated from treated wastewater by using an external magnetic field and they were easily recycled, making them an ideal candidate for environmental remediation. Here, CuInSe 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites were prepared for the first time by coupling MOF-derived NiFe 2 O 4 with CuInSe 2 in the solid-state, route was reported for the first time. From the experimental results and degradation studies, we proposed photocatalytic mechanisms for improving CuInSe 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite photocatalytic performance. The well-organized heterostructure effect and effective separation of photoinduced charge carriers between NiFe 2 O 4 and CuInSe 2 enabled faster degradation. The synthesized recyclable CuInSe 2 /NiFe 2 O 4 nanocomposite has been applied as an alternative photocatalyst material in the treatment of both households and various industrial pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional plastic products have caused serious environmental pollution due to difficulty to be degraded in the natural environment. In the recent years, biodegradable plastics are receiving increasing attention due to advantages in natural degradability and environmental friendliness. Biodegradable plastics have potential to be used in food, agriculture, industry, medicine and other fields. However, the high production cost of such plastics is the bottleneck that limits their commercialization and application. Yeasts, including budding yeast and non-conventional yeasts, are widely studied to produce biodegradable plastics and their organic acid monomers. Compared to bacteria, yeast strains are more tolerable to multiple stress conditions including low pH and high temperature, and also have other advantages such as generally regarded as safe, and no phage infection. In addition, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering of yeast have enabled its rapid and efficient engineering for bioproduction using various renewable feedstocks, especially lignocellulosic biomass. This review focuses on the recent progress in biosynthesis technology and strategies of monomeric organic acids for biodegradable polymers, including polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) using yeast cell factories. Improving the performance of yeast as a cell factory and strategies to improve yeast acid stress tolerance are also discussed. In addition, the critical challenges and future prospects for the production of biodegradable plastic monomer using yeast are also discussed. [Display omitted] • Microbial synthesis of biodegradable plastics benefits environmental sustainability. • Yeasts, as cell factory, exhibit unique advantages in producing organic acids. • Integrated metabolic strategies improves production efficiency of organic acids. • Stress tolerant yeast benefits robust acid production. • Sustainable bioplastics production can be achieved using biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic in-situ hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) has received a great interest in recent years. Different reaction parameters such as catalysts, reaction temperature, time, pressure, solvents and catalyst amount optimized to achieve the highest conversion of HMF and selectivity of the products. The highest conversion of HMF (98%) and selectivity of DMF (97%) were achieved with Ru/ZSM-5 catalyst at 180 °C under ethanol solvent system for 3 h in 250 psi H 2. The high catalytic efficiency was attributed to the oxophilic nature and acidity of catalyst, whereas the selectivity towards DMF was attributed to the Brønsted acidity of Ru/ZSM-5 and its affinity towards the C-O bond. The catalyst exhibited high yield of DMF from in situ hydrogenation of HMF with ethanol as economical hydrogen donor. Reaction mechanism studies revealed that Ru/ZSM-5 is promoting in situ H 2 production from ethanol. Catalyst recyclability on HMF conversion and DMF selectivity has examined. • Catalytic hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was investigated. • High selectivity (97%) of DMF was obtained with higher conversion (98%) of HMF. • Ru/ZSM-5 catalyst showed excellence reusability on DMF product selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TGF-β1 maintains Foxp3 expression in nTregs stimulated in vitro. • TGF-β1 inhibits glycolysis in nTregs stimulated in vitro. • TGF-β1 inhibits mTORC1 and sustains PP2A activation in nTregs stimulated in vitro. Natural regulatory T cells (nTregs) play a dominant role in maintaining immunological homeostasis and they are known to undergo metabolic reprogramming during immune responses. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, can promote the induction of regulatory T cells. Here, we investigated the effects of TGF-β1 on the stability and metabolism of nTregs stimulated in vitro. CD4+CD25+ nTregs were isolated from mouse spleens and stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies plus IL-2 in the presence or absence of TGF-β1. Exposure to TGF-β1 induced the activation of STAT5 and sustained the expression of the nTregs transcription factor Foxp3. In addition, TGF-β1 inhibited glycolysis, as shown by reduced lactate production and diminished expression of Glut1, Hk2, Enolase1, and Hif-1α. nTregs treated with TGF-β1 exhibited downregulated mTORC1 signaling but enhanced activation of the serine-threonine phosphatase PP2A. Moreover, treat with the PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid disrupted the maintenance of Foxp3 expression by TGF-β1. Thus, TGF-β1 serves to maintain Foxp3 expression in cultured nTregs, possibly via PP2A activation and suppression of mTORC1-regulated glycolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a holmium oxide (Ho 2 O 3 /CNT) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized through a MOF assisted route for the first time. The effects of the morphology and purity on the photocatalytic behavior of the products, were investigated by determining various physicochemical properties. The Ho 2 O 3 /CNT nanocomposite was systematically analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy studies. The Ho 2 O 3 derived from a MOF assisted synthetic route using Ho(NO 3) 3 ·5H 2 O and terephthalic acid with a 1:1 M ratio at a temperature of 750 °C for 3 h prove the most advantageous, 98% degradation of 20 mg/L aqueous tetracycline pollutant was observed within 60 min. The elevated photocatalytic activity was mainly attributable to the unique synthetic route, improved crystallinity, wide UV-light absorption rate and excellent adsorption capabilities of CNT, as well as enhanced oxygen deficiency. The photocatalytic results confirm that the Ho 2 O 3 /CNT nanocomposite is an efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of toxic tetracycline pollutant and is thus suitable for use in environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chitosan (CTS) characterized with many functional amino and hydroxyl groups has been the research focus on flocculants preparation and synthesis because of the facile grafting and modification to enhance and enlarge its original functions. In this study, a new type of graft modified flocculant CTS-g-PAA and its combination with kaolin have been developed for the treatment of acid blue 83 (AB 83). The CTS-g-PAA prepared by ultrasonic initiation of acrylamide (AM), 3-Acrylamide propyltrimethylammonium chloride (AATPAC) and CTS. The factors affecting CTS-g-PAA molecular weight and CTS graft ratio were examined to have a better understanding and comprehending of the ultrasonic initiated polymerization. The structure and morphological characteristics of CTS-g-PAA were investigated and analyzed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), differential thermal/thermogravimetric (TG/DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), respectively. The results indicated that the CTS cyclic structure was broken by ultrasonic initiation and the grafting occurred at amino group with C 2 site of CTS. Meanwhile, the CTS-g-PAA coupled with kaolin exhibited superior flocculation performance better than the single removal effect, and the optimum removal rate for AB 83 could achieve 91.9%. The flocculation mechanism was discussed and summarized based on the conduction of zeta potential, FTIR of floc particles and the adsorption ability of the formed kaolin flocs. During the AB 83 flocculation, the CTS-g-PAA adsorption and flocculation contributed much to the AB 83 removal. The added kaolin particles played a crucial role in the enhancement of AB 83 adsorption and flocculation. The kaolin particles and the formed kaolin floc showed an adsorption effect for AB 83, and the kaolin particles also worked as the bridging between the CTS-g-PAA filled with AB 83 to strengthen the flocculation performance. As a result, the flocculation performance for AB 83 removal was greatly improved. Unlabelled Image • The chitosan (CTS) grafted flocculant CTS-g-PAA was prepared by ultrasonic initiated polymerization of AM, AATPAC and CTS.The skeleton structure of CTS was destroyed by ultrasonic initiated polymerization. • The graft copolymerization mainly occurred at amino group connecting with C 2 site of CTS. • The CTS-g-PAA coupled with kaolin exhibited superior flocculation performance. • The CTS-g-PAA adsorption and flocculation contributed much to the AB 83 removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol (Res), a natural polyphenol compound found in grapes and red wine, has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic effects. However, proinflammatory/tumor-promoting properties of Res have also been reported, rendering the polyphenol's reported therapeutic benefits less convincing and controversial. To evaluate the underlying plausible factors contributing to the differential immunomodulatory effects imparted by Res, herein, we investigated, at both physiological and pharmacological doses, the in vitro effects of Res on cell survival/proliferation, inflammatory genes, and cytokine production in human monocytic cell line (THP-1) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate differentiated human THP-1–derived macrophages. We hypothesized that the differential effects observed in monocytes and macrophages may largely depend on dietary vs pharmacological doses of Res, duration of treatment, and the target cells it acts upon. Our data showed that Res, at physiological concentrations, inhibited proliferation of THP-1 monocytes with S phase arrest. On the other hand, at pharmacological concentrations, Res induced cell apoptosis and caused G0/G1 phase arrest. Additionally, Res showed differential effects on proinflammatory cytokine expression and production measured by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, in THP-1 monocytes vs macrophages: promoting inflammation in monocytes while exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages. Comparative analysis on Res and 2 other phytochemicals, pterostilbene and genistein, revealed that the immunomodulatory effects of Res were consistent with those observed in pterostilbene and not genistein. Our results reveal a pleiotropic immunomodulatory property of Res that is dose-time-target cell–dependent and thus serve as a caution for the use of Res in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the core technologies employed in the field of sludge conditioning, flocculation has the ability to improve the sludge dewatering performance and reduce its volume and amount, which can accordingly result in lower costs in sludge transportation as well as subsequent disposal. Therefore, the development of new and high-efficiency flocculants is a hot topic in this field. The template copolymer (TPAD) of acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC) and acrylamide (AM) was successfully synthesized through ultrasonic-template copolymerization using sodium-polyacrylate (NaPAA) as a template. The analysis of FTIR, 1H (13C) NMR, TG/DSC and SEM revealed that TPAD had a conspicuously significant cationic segmental structure. In addition, the results obtained from the analysis on the association constant (K M) and the kinetics of the template reaction indicated that the ultrasonic-template was a free radical initiated polymerization and the polymerization mechanism was I Zip-up (ZIP), and which once again confirmed the formation of the cationic fragment structure. This novel cationic fragment structure in TPAD greatly enhanced the ability of charge neutralization, electric patching, adsorption and bridging, thus improving the active sludge conditioning and dewatering performance (FCMC: 72.9%, SRF: 4.0 × 1012 m·kg−1, d 50 : 228.604 μm, D f : 2.02 at 400 r/min). The floc breakage and regeneration experiments showed that the cationic fragment structure in TPAD could make great contribution to the formation of large and dense floc structures, and these flocs were able to regenerate rapidly after breakage. Finally, it was also known that these large and compact floc structures were beneficial to the creation of more channels and voids, thereby decreasing sludge resistance (SRF) and improving sludge dewatering performance. Unlabelled Image • A cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) with the cationic segment structure was successfully synthesized through ultrasonic-initiated template copolymerization method. • The copolymerization was demonstrated to follow (Ι) Zip template polymerization mechanism and free radical termination reaction through the analyses of association constant (M K) and polymerization kinetics. • All of the instrumental analysis results indicated the formation of the cationic segments in CPAM. • The cationic segments in CPAM could extremely enhance the ability of electrostatic patching and charge neutralization. • The cationic segment structure was more favorable for the regeneration of the broken flocs to form large and compact flocs which could withstand higher pressures. • The ultrasonic-initiated template copolymer showed an excellent performance in sludge flocculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study assessed the clinical value of regional ischemic preconditioning (RIP) and the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in the protective mechanism of RIP in cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing hepatectomy.Methods: Liver resection was performed with hemi-hepatic vascular inflow occlusion (HHV) under RIP (RIP group) or with HHV alone (HHV group). Clinical data, surgical outcomes, and the levels of phosphorylated MAPKs before occlusion and 30 min after reperfusion were estimated.Results: HHV under RIP was associated with less intraoperative blood loss (300 vs. 400 ml; P = 0.042), postoperative plasma transfused (400 vs. 800 ml; P = 0.019), and a higher level of prothrombin activity at postoperative days 3, 5, and 7 compared to HHV alone. The level of phosphorylated ERK protein was significantly increased and the levels of phosphorylated p38 and JNK proteins were significantly decreased 30 min after reperfusion compared to HHV group in the RIP group.Conclusions: HHV under RIP may have clinical value in cirrhotic HCC patients requiring resection and the protective mechanism of RIP may be associated with changes in the protein phosphorylation level of MAPK pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The intense temperature and plumes variations in multi-hole unstable condensation are analyzed. • The preliminary double-hole condensation flow regimes map is firstly developed. • The simplified lumped condensation model for the multi-hole steam jets is proposed. • The HTC ranges in the multi-hole unstable condensation process are estimated. The multi-hole steam ejection system is widely applied in practical engineering applications, whereas the heat transfer mechanisms in unstable condensation conditions are not very clear yet. In this study, the separate-effect mechanism tests of single/double-hole sparger, and 88-hole scaled ADS sparger tests are carried out to investigate the unstable steam spraying condensation performances. The experimental results indicate that for the multi-hole steam unstable condensation process, the plumes expand and contract in high frequency, and the instantaneous heat transfer coefficients are estimated quantitatively. The multi-hole steam condensation regimes are significantly determined by the steam mass flow flux and water sub-cooling degree, then the double-hole condensation regimes map is proposed based on the key inputting parameters. Moreover, the simplified lumped condensation model for the multi-hole condensation process is developed, in which the upper and lower heat transfer coefficient values limitations are evaluated to be 4.3–5.9 MW/(m2 °C) and 0.89–0.94 MW/(m2 °C), respectively. The ADS 1–3 scaled 88-hole steam condensation results further validate the appropriation of the lumped condensation model, with the heat transfer coefficients estimated as 0.17–2.9 MW/(m2 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergistic corrosion inhibition performance of 3, 3′-Diethylthiadicarbocyanine iodide (DI) and Thioflavin T (TT) for copper in 0.1 M HCl solution was investigated by electrochemical methods, weight loss tests and SEM. Besides, through the thermodynamics and kinetics analysis, the effects of temperature and concentration were explored. The XPS was also applied to study synergistic inhibition mechanism between anions and cations of ionic liquid. The results indicated that the inhibitor molecules interacted with copper forming protective film to inhibit corrosion by physical and chemical adsorption, also the organic cations and halogen ions had synergistic corrosion inhibition. With theoretical calculation and molecular dynamics simulation, the experiment validity was further assessed. Unlabelled Image • The studied inhibitors are environmentally friendly. • The inhibition efficiency is excellent up to 99.81%. • Theoretical calculations further provide evidence for experiments. • A good synergistic corrosion inhibition exists between anion and anion in ionic liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Functional graph (FunGraph) theory emerges to map pharmacogenetic architecture. • The core tenet of FunGraph is to combine functional mapping and evolutionary game theory into a network framework. • Each agent's functional roadmap can be visualized and traced from the networks. • FunGraph can map pharmacogenetics networks for each and every subject. • FunGraph can quantify interindividual and context-specific differences in network architecture. Precision medicine, the utilization of targeted treatments to address an individual's disease, relies on knowledge about the genetic cause of that individual's drug response. Here, we present a functional graph (FunGraph) theory to chart comprehensive pharmacogenetic architecture for each and every patient. FunGraph is the combination of functional mapping – a dynamic model for genetic mapping and evolutionary game theory guiding interactive strategies. It coalesces all pharmacogenetic factors into multilayer and multiplex networks that fully capture bidirectional, signed and weighted epistasis. It can visualize and interrogate how epistasis moves in the cell and how this movement leads to patient- and context-specific genetic architecture in response to organismic physiology. We discuss the future implementation of FunGraph to achieve precision medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel porous Cu-MOF-C and NiNPs composite was controllably prepared. • The Cu-MOF-C and NiNPs have a synergistic catalytic effect on the redox reaction of glucose. • The sensor was developed for sensitive detection of glucose in natural saliva samples. • This work provides an effective sensing platform for glucose detection. This study presents the preparation of a novel electrochemical non-enzymatic sensor for the detection of glucose in natural saliva based on a metal organic framework (MOF) derivative (Cu-MOF-C) and nickel nanoparticle (NiNP) composite modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). The morphology and structural evolution were thoroughly characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet and visible spectrum (UV) and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR). Moreover, the electrocatalytic activity of the NiNPs/Cu-MOF-C/GCE for glucose was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and the amperometric i-t technique. The NiNPs/Cu-MOF-C/GCE sensor exhibits a wide linear range of 0.3–1150 μM and low detection limit (DL) of 0.090 μM at a signal/noise ratio (S/N) of 3. The average recovery rate of this method is satisfactory between 97.3% and 108.4%. Furthermore, the sensor exhibited excellent repeatability, good stability and reproducibility for glucose detection. Compared with traditional invasive measurement, the detection of glucose in natural saliva can reduce the pain caused by continuous blood collection, which is an ideal method for patients requiring continuous monitoring of glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Toll signaling pathway in Drosophila melanogaster regulates several immune-related functions, including the expression of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes. The canonical Toll receptor (Toll-1) is activated by the cytokine Spätzle (Spz-1), but Drosophila encodes eight other Toll genes and five other Spz genes whose interactions with one another and associated functions are less well-understood. Here, we conducted in vitro assays in the Drosophila S2 cell line with the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) homology domains of each Toll family member to determine whether they can activate a known target of Toll-1, the promoter of the antifungal peptide gene drosomycin. All TIR family members activated the drosomycin promoter, with Toll-1 and Toll-7 TIRs producing the highest activation. We found that the Toll-1 and Toll-7 ectodomains bind Spz-1, -2, and -5, and also vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) virions, and that Spz-1, -2, -5, and VSV all activated the promoters of drosomycin and several other AMP genes in S2 cells expressing full-length Toll-1 or Toll-7. In vivo experiments indicated that Toll-1 and Toll-7 mutants could be systemically infected with two bacterial species (Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans, and VSV with different survival times in adult females and males compared with WT fly survival. Our results suggest that all Toll family members can activate several AMP genes. Our results further indicate that Toll-1 and Toll-7 bind multiple Spz proteins and also VSV, but they differentially affect adult survival after systemic infection, potentially because of sex-specific differences in Toll-1 and Toll-7 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Laser waveform control in high-order harmonic generation (HHG) has been investigated and discussed by using the two-color chirp gating technology. It is found that the multiple-acceleration-recombination process in HHG can be found in a specific 'W' waveform structure. Moreover, by changing the chirp forms as well as laser parameters, the multiple-acceleration-recombination process in the 'W' waveform structure can be controlled, which leads to the remarkable improvements of harmonic cutoff and harmonic yield. Consequently, a water window spectral continuum with a bandwidth of 488 eV and with an intensity enhancement of 10 times can be obtained. Further, by the Fourier transformation of some selected harmonics on this spectral continuum, three single attosecond pulses (SAPs) with the pulse durations of 38 as can be produced. With the introduction of inhomogeneous effect of the laser field, the HHG spectra with a larger harmonic cutoff and a broader spectral continuum can be obtained. Consequently, by the Fourier transformation of some selected harmonics on the spectral continuum, a number of water window SAPs with the pulse durations of 36 as can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • α-Amylase hydrolysis of long starch chains led to chain-cleavage of glutenins. • Insoluble starch significantly inhibited the unfolding of insoluble deamidated wheat gluten. • The interactions between amylopectin and gliadins were by α-pyran-glycosidic bonds. • Gluten-starch interactions likely caused the incomplete dissolution of wheat gluten. Abstract After carboxylic acid deamidation upon heating (CADH), wheat gluten still contains a total of ∼10% insoluble fractions, of which ∼10% is starch, which depreciate the values of wheat gluten. To elucidate gluten-starch interactions and their role in the deamidation behavior of gluten, the macrostructural characteristics of gluten citric acid suspensions of different concentrations (1% and 10%, w/v) and with different types of residual starch chains (achieved by enzyme hydrolyzed by α-amylase and/or glucoamylase assisted by sonication) were investigated. We found the degradation of long starch chains and branched short chains induced dramatic bond-cleavages in insoluble glutenins and gliadins. FTIR and SDS-PAGE analyses indicated that without these two types of chains in the precipitates, the insoluble deamidated wheat gluten exhibited minimal changes in the molecular force and the conformation. Their glycosylation, hydrophobic force and hydrogen bonds between amylopectin and small proteins, such as LMW-GS and α, β, γ-gliadins, were detected. FTIR suggested that the associations between gliadins and amylopectin were covalent. Gluten-starch interactions were likely to cause an incomplete dissolution of wheat gluten during CADH. A simple model was proposed to clarify the aggregation state and the relationships between starch granules and wheat gluten components during CADH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Asymmetric vortex shedding mode over a circular cylinder can be converted into a symmetric mode. • Various wake patterns are found and influence of actuation parameters is analyzed. • Vortex formation and evolution mechanism under symmetric actuations is revealed. • It proves a novel approach to reduce the vortex-induced vibration. Abstract The flow around a circular cylinder is controlled by a pair of synthetic jets symmetrically positioned near the separation points at a Reynolds number of 1200. The flow field in the near wake is measured by a collaboration of the flow visualization and the particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques. The experiment is conducted under six different momentum coefficients C μ , ranging from 0.007 to 0.421, while seven excitation frequencies are selected as harmonics of the dominant frequency. Various wake patterns appeared during this study, among which are the 2S asymmetric mode, the 2(P + S) asymmetric mode, the 2P symmetric mode, the 2S symmetric mode and the bistable state where vortices shed with both symmetric and asymmetric modes. The phase averaging method, the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) based vorticity reconstruction and Fourier analysis are adopted to study the vortex dynamics. Particular attention is given to the vortex-formation mechanism for different modes under C μ = 0.187, when all of the typical modes emerged. Vortex behaviors under symmetric excitation can be interpreted by looking into the processes of flow separation and vortex shedding. It is shown that synthetic jets can lead to unsteady flow separation and various vortex shedding modes are influenced by the periodic vorticity concertation induced by the synthetic jets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We measure the 3D velocity field of an AR = 3 rectangular synthetic jet by SV-PIV. • We present the complicated evolution of 3D vortical structures in detail. • An ejection and injection mechanism suggests enhanced mixing of the rectangular case. • Interactions of vortical structures promote early flow transition of the rectangular case. Abstract A time-resolved single-camera volumetric particle image velocimetry (SV-PIV) method was used to measure three-dimensional (3D) vortical structures in a transitional rectangular synthetic jet with aspect ratio (AR) of 3 at a Reynolds number of 332. Compared to a laminar circular synthetic jet, the rectangular case displayed more complicated vortical evolution associated with axis switching of the vortex ring and the formation of streamwise vortex (SV-I), arc-like vortex (AV), Λ-like vortex, and their interactions. The differences in the vortical structures between the rectangular synthetic jets and rectangular continuous jets (AR ≥ 2) were discussed in detail. The joint induction of the vortex ring, SV-I, and AV produced an ejection and injection mechanism, suggesting an enhanced mixing property. In addition, the interactions of SV-I and AV with the vortex ring could promote early flow transition, and result in the rapid decay of the enstrophy for the rectangular case. The start of transition could be determined from the power spectrum. Then the velocity triple-decomposition method was applied to reveal different contributions of the large-scale coherent and small-scale turbulent structures to the flow field. The rectangular case displayed an earlier increase in the random turbulence kinetic energy compared to the circular case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The gut microbiome is composed of an enormous number of microorganisms, generally regarded as commensal bacteria. Resident gut bacteria are an important contributor to health and significant evidence suggests that the presence of healthy and diverse gut microbiota is important for normal cognitive and emotional processing. Here we measured the expression of monoamine neurotransmitter-related genes in the hippocampus of germ-free (GF) mice and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice to explore the effect of gut microbiota on hippocampal monoamine functioning. In total, 19 differential expressed genes (Htr7, Htr1f, Htr3b, Drd3, Ddc, Maob, Tdo2, Fos, Creb1, Akt1, Gsk3a, Pik3ca, Pla2g5, Cyp2d22, Grk6, Ephb1, Slc18a1, Nr4a1, Gdnf) that could discriminate between the two groups were identified. Interestingly, GF mice displayed anxiolytic-like behavior compared to SPF mice, which were not reversed by colonization with gut microbiota from SPF mice. Besides, colonization of adolescent GF mice by gut microbiota was not sufficient to reverse the altered gene expression associated with their GF status. Taking these findings together, the absence of commensal microbiota during early life markedly affects hippocampal monoamine gene-regulation, which was associated with anxiolytic behaviors and monoamine neurological signs. Highlights • A comprehensive global evaluation of the hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitters in germ-free (GF) mice. • Absence of gut microbiota markedly affects hippocampal monoamine genes, impairing the development of brain and behaviors. • Altered anxiolytic behaviors and monoamine genes induced by GF status could't be reversed by colonization at adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulnerability assessment is an effective way to identify systemic weaknesses, thus to provide scientific guidance to make management decisions and avoid potential accidents. Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) have shown great superiority on vulnerability assessment in many fields. However, their applications on the relationship analysis between the state features of urban buried gas pipeline network and the corresponding vulnerability level have not yet been reported. This paper proposed a uniform framework of the novel application of SVM and ANN methods to vulnerability assessment of urban buried gas pipeline network, and performed a comparison between these two methods on various aspects. The analysis methodology follows a four-stage procedure. First, various indexes influencing vulnerability are selected and quantified for further data generation process, by which enough training and validation samples are obtained. The architecture, essential algorithms and optimized parameters for the application of these two methods are determined by the next process of model selection. The model selection phase for ANN is far more complex than that for SVM, which makes it easy for ANN to come to over-fitting. The third stage is to train SVM and ANN on the training set and to evaluate the performance on the executions of the validation set. The results show that the training outputs of SVM (MSE = 2.74E-4) are better fitted with the desired outputs than that of ANN (MSE = 1.92E-2). The SVM model (SMAPE = 0.79%) is able to output satisfying values when applied to unknown samples and is more accurate than the ANN model (SMAPE = 8.64%) in prediction. Finally, a sample gas pipeline network was used to demonstrate the feasibility and practicability of these two models, where the results are similar and consistent with the reality. The proposed methods can be used in practical applications to support better safety management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The aim of this study was to isolate and identify antioxidant peptides from defatted walnut meal proteins hydrolysates (DWMPH) prepared by simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and to evaluate the protective effect of the selected antioxidant peptides against oxidative damage to SH-SY5Y cells. The DWMPH were purified by ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography and RP-HPLC successively, and finally six major peptides were identified as VRN, NPAN, AHSVGP, SSE, TY and SGGY by UPLC-QTOF-MS. TY and SGGY displayed stronger ABTS radical scavenging activity and higher ORAC value in comparison with other four peptides. Furthermore, 0.5 mg/mL SGGY exhibited significantly protective effect on SH-SY5Y cells against oxidative damage (p <.01). Therefore, it was suggested that walnut meal protein could serve as a potential source of antioxidative peptides through gastrointestinal digestion. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Anti-oxidative peptides were prepared from walnut proteins by simulating gastrointestinal digestion. • Two peptides with excellent radical scavenging activity were identified. • SGGY exhibited excellent protective effect on SH-SY5Y cells against oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Alogliptin reduces infarction area and neurological deficits in MCAO mice. • Alogliptin improves brain vascular integrity by increasing ZO-1 and Occludin. • Alogliptin reduces OGD/R- induced endothelial permeability. • Alogliptin reduces MMP-2 and MMP-9 but increases TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Abstract Endothelial damage and blood brain barrier disruption contribute to ischemic stroke and brain injury. Gliptins are a novel class of treatment agents for diabetes, and recent studies have linked the use of gliptins to neuroprotection. Alogliptin is a type of orally available gliptin that was approved for clinical use by the FDA in 2013. In this study, we investigated the neurovascular protective effects of alogliptin both in vivo and in vitro. In a murine middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) stroke model, administration of alogliptin ameliorated cerebral infarction and disruption of brain vascular permeability, and restored expression of the endothelial tight junction proteins occludin and zona occludens 1 (ZO-1). In brain vascular endothelial cells exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R), alogliptin prevented OGD/R-induced high permeability of the endothelial monolayer. Alogliptin treatment recovered the reduction in occludin and ZO-1 induced by OGD/R. Moreover, alogliptin treatment prevented OGD/R-induced induction of metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, and restored expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2. Collectively, our data indicate that alogliptin can improve neurovascular integrity and exerts neuroprotective effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Deflection of the hourglass lattice panel is 60% less than that of the solid plate. • The hourglass lattice has higher face tearing resistance than the pyramidal one. • Front-face deflections of hourglass panels are 22%−38% less than pyramidal ones. Abstract In this paper the enhanced lattice topology (defined as hourglass), with the improved resistance to tearing of face sheets, is used to improve the underwater blast impact performance of lattice truss structures. The stainless-steel lattices are fabricated by an interlocking and vacuum brazing method, all with a core relative density of about 4%. Their mechanical behaviors are investigated under quasi-static out-of-plane compression and underwater blast impact, in the latter case using an underwater shock simulator. Results show that the quasi-static compressive strength of the hourglass lattice is similar to that of the pyramidal lattice for the relative density chosen in this paper. The failure modes of the hourglass lattice panels subjected to underwater blast impact consist of core truss buckling, node imprinting and stretching of the front face sheets. The obtained results confirm that the hourglass lattice sandwich panel shows an approximately 60% reduction in the maximum panel deflection with respect to a monolithic plate of equal mass per unit area. Furthermore, the underwater blast impact performance of the hourglass lattice panels outperforms that of the pyramidal lattice panels of equal weight per unit area in the sense of resistance to stretching and tearing of the face sheets. Therefore, sandwich structure with the hourglass lattice design is a potential candidate for protective structures. Graphical Abstract Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the evolution of the flow structures and the mixing characteristics in low-aspect-ratio (AR) noncircular incompressible synthetic jets are investigated. Two elongated configurations, elliptic and rectangular orifices with AR = 3 and 5 are used to produce synthetic jets at a Reynolds number of 166. The velocity fields in different spatial planes are measured by time-resolved two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (2D-PIV), and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (S-PIV), respectively. The results show that the evolution of the vortical structures and the flow physics are influenced by the orifice configuration and AR. The first axis-switching location of the elliptic cases is closer to the jet orifice than that of the rectangular cases, while the AR = 3 cases undergo more upstream location and more times of axis switching than the AR = 5 cases. In addition to axis switching, noncircular synthetic jets are observed to develop streamwise vortices. The rectangular cases develop stronger streamwise vortices than the elliptic cases. The extended angle of streamwise vortices increases with the increasing AR, and is larger for the rectangular cases than the elliptic cases. In particular, the AR = 3 rectangular case has larger values of centerline streamwise velocity fluctuation, Reynolds stresses, mass flow rate and momentum flux than the other cases in the second axis-switching region, suggesting significantly enhanced mixing and momentum transportation characteristics. The mechanism could be attributed to its more evident vortex deformation and stronger streamwise vortices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]